ACCEPT – Blood Of The Nations

As Accept are making a new lease of life for themselves, they also make sure it’s a bonafide comeback. Even hard trusted believers had to take a leap of faith when again facing the prospect of an “Udo-less” Accept, still remembering the sore of Eat the Heat some odd twenty years ago.

By now though, the band has already converted a well portioned base of fans through its live gigs, which saw new recruit, ex-TT Quick vocalist Mark Tornillo run through long, sweaty gigs full of classic Accept with great effort. The fact that Tornillo has the type of voice associated with Accept is obvious, but would Accept still deliver on record?

Finally, with the release of Blood of the Nations, Accept set firmly the last nail in the coffin for doubters. With producer Andy Sneap also functioning as guide, not only can guitarist Wolf Hoffman and bassist Peter Baltes still mold typical Accept Teutonic Molten Metal – Accept hasn’t sounded this lively and aggressive since it’s early to mid-80’s heyday.

“Beat the Bastards” is the fast angry opener its title suggests, which sets the tone for an album that is traditional, yet varied and modern enough in its scope. “Teutonic Terror” has classic Accept crowd favorite written all over it. The likes of “The Abyss” and “Shades of Death” sets a dark yet catchy presence. “Rollin’ Thunder”, co-penned by second guitarist Herman Frank, and “Pandemic” serves as the fast and melodic rockers they are, and “Kill the Pain” marks as a slow, beautiful moment in its gloominess. “Locked And Loaded” and “No Shelter” could be seen as present day counterparts to Accept’s legendary Speed Metal moments “Restless and Wild” and “Wrong Is Right”, while “New World Comin'” sees a more relaxed, Bluesy Rocker.

To summarize, there really is no reason why Accept fans would not approve of Blood of the Nations.